Asian carp surveillance efforts ramp up

Continued surveillance to protect Wisconsin waters against invasive species has turned up a single positive environmental DNA, or eDNA, sample for silver carp in the Lower Fox River. The sample, among hundreds taken statewide in recent months, does not necessarily signal the presence of live fish.

To determine the source of the eDNA found in the river, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and has asked the federal agency for its help to collect additional samples from the Fox River in the next two weeks.

Asian carp pose significant ecological and economic threats to the Great Lakes region and its fishery because they eat voraciously and compete directly with valuable native fish for food.

"The tests for environmental DNA are extremely sensitive and can detect genetic material shed in mucus or excrement from fish as well as from birds that have eaten the fish elsewhere," said Bob Wakeman, aquatic invasive species coordinator for DNR. "Bilge water from boats also can carry traces of the fish. While these genetic fingerprints are clear enough to help us identify specific invasive carp species, the eDNA testing program relies on multiple positive samples over time to indicate the likelihood of live fish."

For example, more than 100 additional samples following a single positive detection for silver carp DNA in Sturgeon Bay in late 2013 did not turn up further evidence of the fish. In the latest case, the single positive sample from the Lower Fox River was among 200 samples collected from the river in June and July. The monitoring was part of a coordinated program that included drawing some 1,950 samples from tributaries to Lake Michigan during the summer months. In addition to the federal eDNA monitoring, DNR fisheries team members conduct a variety of netting, electroshocking and trawling operations in state waters as part of the ongoing monitoring effort. To date, these efforts have not captured any Asian carp in any waters of the Lower Fox River, Green Bay or Lake Michigan.

News and notes

• Maribel Sportsmen's Club will be holding gun sight-ins on Oct. 25, Nov. 1, 2, and 8 all from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sight-in assistance and minor repairs can be done on site. Cost is $5 per gun and any additional guns are free with three non-perishable food items per gun that will be given to a local food pantry. Maribel Sportsmen's Club is located next to I-43, exit 164, state Highway 147, Maribel. Also check out all of the club's activities on their new website at Maribelsportsmansclub.org

• Joe's Clays and Guns will be holding their Halloween Spook Shoot this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25 and 26. Shooting will be from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. both days. Cost is $15 for 50 targets plus an optional $5 Lewis fee. There will also be lunch and door prizes. Joe's Clays and Guns is located two miles west of Kellnersville on County K.

• This past week I received confirmation from Tim Braun Taxidermy that he will again have a display of Manitowoc County trophy bucks at Buck Fever Night on Wednesday, Nov. 12. These are all trophy's from the 2013 season and all from our county. Last year this was a very popular display as many people don't realize how many trophies come from right here in our back yards. Buck Fever Night will be held at City Limits, formerly the Club Bil-Mar.

• Maribel Sportsmen's Club recently wrapped up their fall trap league. In division I first place was Road Kill and second place was Schug Financial. In division II first place was Round Em Up and second place was Misfits. League high gun was John Lambert. Team high guns included Misfits, Chris Stenzel; Stenzel sharp shooters, Chuck Stenzel; Road Kill, John Lambert; Round em up, Jim Patterson; Schug Financial, Tom Staskal; Galley Restaurant, Al Ansorge; Stodola Accounting, Kerry Krajnik; 21 Gun Gals, Lynn Robinson; and D and J's Ladies, Dan Healy.

This trail camera photo of a wolf taken along the Pike River east of Amberg features 'tusks' made as the animal moved its head as the flash snapped.An entry in the Nov./Dec. 2014 trail camera photo contest sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm. Submitted by Jim Lefebvre

This is a picture of a wolf and deer in the same shot. In the comer, the deer's backside. In the back, is a wolf looking at the deer. An entry in the Nov./Dec. 2014 trail camera photo contest sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm. Submitted by David Reis

This picture of a wolf was taken in a remote area of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, while scouting for deer. Enter your trail camera photos in our monthly contest, sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm. Submitted by Mark Burton

In this undated photo provided by Jayne Belsky via the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is a gray wolf in a wooded area near Wisconsin Dells, Wis. AP Photo/Jayne Belsky via the Wisconsin Department

A pack of eight wolves is living on Blaine Wollin?s property in Bayfield County in 2012. Three blacks and five mixed color. Enter your trail camera photos in our monthly contest, sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm by clicking the ?photo contest? link above. Photo by Blaine Wollin

In this undated photo provided by Jayne Belsky via the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is a gray wolf in a wooded area near Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Federal officials removed Great Lakes wolves from the endangered species list in January. Given free rein to manage the species, Wisconsin and Minnesota lawmakers pushed aside the concerns of some environmentalists and established their first seasons allowing hunters to bait, shoot and trap wolves. File/AP

The gray wolf is one of the most leary and secretive animals roaming Wisconsin's woodlands. They are known to be one of the toughest animals to hunt or trap. If that is the case in reference to their numbers as reported by the DNR, why do hunters and trappers have little trouble catching them?

Three of the six zones are already closed because the number of wolves have been harvested in less than a week, one zone in only three days. The answer is obvious. There are way more wolves in Wisconsin than the numbers indicate from DNR counts. It is only a matter of time when a young child will be attacked or worse. Think it can't happen, just look at what uncontrolled coyotes do in California. Think of the adverse economic impact uncontrolled wolves would have on the very profitable deer hunting trade across our state.